2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

How Do You Develop A Bold Heart?

1 Samuel 17:5-7 – “He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels[c] of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.”

Four Stages:

1. You develop a bold heart in the everyday challenges of life.

1 Samuel 17:34-36 - 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

2. You develop a bold heart in the face of criticism and opposition

1 Samuel 17:26 – “And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1 Samuel 17:28 - Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

1 Samuel 17:29-30 - 29 And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” 30 And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.

3. You develop a bold heart when you resist the pressure to conform.

1 Samuel 17:32 – “And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

1 Samuel 17:33 – “And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

4. You develop a bold heart in the great crisis moments of life.

1 Samuel 17:41-44 – “And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

1 Samuel 17:45-47 – “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”

1 Samuel 17:13 – “Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.”

What Is This Story Really About?

1 Samuel 17:45 – “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

1 Samuel 17:47 – “And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

• This is a story about God!

• What does it take to defeat a Goliath? One smooth stone equals a bold confidence in God!

Summer Sessions continues THIS TUESDAY NIGHT! Come checkout one of our four areas: Couples, Singles, Men, and Women. Each week stands alone so come any of the three remaining sessions you can!

**Go to westridge.com for dates and times (as well as the topics for each track)

For Group Discussion or further study:

Get the Big Picture! Read 1 Samuel 17

Q1: What do you think people seem to fight against the most in their lives? Explain your answer.

Read 2 Timothy 1:7

Q2: How do you think power, love, and self-discipline fit together?

Read 1 Samuel 17:5-7, 1 Samuel 17:34-36

Q3: What things in life do you feel dishonors the God you serve? Of those things, which one bothers you the most?

Q4: What would you say is the most difficult thing about handling a Goliath in our lives? Is it handling criticism from others or having the boldness to stand up to our fears? Share your thoughts with the group.

Read 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Q5: The story of Goliath is the story of the faithfulness and power of God. In what way do you think followers of Christ must truly believe and rely on the faithfulness of God? What about you?